July 20th 2024.
Good news for Arsenal fans as their team is reportedly closing in on a €50 million deal to sign Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori. The 22-year-old has been a top priority for Mikel Arteta's side this month and it seems like the transfer is finally gaining momentum after a brief stall.
Calafiori, who recently represented Italy at Euro 2024, is back in individual training after a well-deserved break. But it seems like he won't be staying with his current team for long as talks between Bologna and his former club FC Basel have hit a stalemate. Basel, who sold Calafiori last year for a significantly lower fee of €4 million, are now demanding 50% of the transfer fee that Arsenal is expected to pay. However, Bologna is not too pleased with this arrangement as the defender only spent a year with Basel and didn't receive his first senior call-up with Italy until May this year.
But there's good news for Arsenal as reports from Sky Sports Italy and Gianluca Di Marzio suggest that the deal is inching closer to completion. In fact, it is reported that Arsenal and Bologna have already agreed on a €50 million package and are currently discussing the final details and bonuses. This progress was made possible by positive talks involving Calafiori's agent, Alessandro Lucci, who played a key role in the deal.
Personal terms have already been agreed upon between Arsenal and Calafiori, who has been impressive in his three starts for Italy at Euro 2024. The young defender has been keeping himself in shape by training with a personal coach, even during his brief holiday after the tournament. He is expected to report back for pre-season training with Bologna this weekend before they head to their training camp in Valles, Alto Adige, located in the northern part of Italy.
Meanwhile, Arsenal is set to begin their pre-season tour in the United States this weekend. It's an exciting time for both the club and the fans, as they eagerly await the arrival of their new signing. Sign up for exclusive news, analysis, and updates on Arsenal to stay in the loop. Your privacy is important to us, as this site is protected by reCAPTCHA and subject to Google's Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
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